सुधापूर्गं सुधापात्रं ददौ भक्त्या सुधामुखी । चकार पुष्पशय्यां च गोपी चन्दनचर्चिताम्
Sudhāmukhī, with devotion, offered a vessel brimming with nectar, and a gopī prepared a flower-strewn bed anointed with sandalwood.
अम्लानमालतीपुष्पमालाजालविभूषिताम् । रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणमन्दिरे सुमनोहरे
It was adorned with garlands of unfading mālatī flowers, within a wondrous palace built of the finest jewels.
मणीन्द्रमुक्तामाणिक्यहीरहारविभूषिते । कस्तूरीकुङ्कुमाक्तेन वायुना सुरभीकृते
The chamber was decorated with necklaces of precious gems, pearls, rubies, and gold, and made fragrant by breezes scented with musk and saffron.
रत्नप्रदीपशतकैर्ज्वलद्भिश्च सुदीपिते । धूपिते सततं धूपैर्नानावस्तुसमन्वितैः
It was brilliantly illuminated by hundreds of blazing jeweled lamps, and always perfumed with incense of various kinds.
कृत्वा शय्यां रतिकरीं ययुर्गोप्यश्च सस्मिताः । दृष्ट्वा रहसि तल्पं च सुरम्यं सुमनोहरम्
Having prepared the delightful bed of love, the smiling gopīs departed, after beholding the secluded, enchanting couch.
माधवो राघया सार्ध विवेश रतिमन्दिरम् । नानाप्रकारहास्यं च परिहासं स्मरोचितम्
Mādhava entered the chamber of love with Rādhā, engaging in many kinds of laughter and playful, amorous banter.
द्वयोर्बभूव तल्पे च मदनातुरयोस्तथा । माल्यं ददौ च कृष्णाय ताम्बूलं च सुवासितम्
On the couch, the two, overcome by love, exchanged garlands and fragrant betel leaves.
कस्तूरीकुङ्कुमाक्तं च चन्दनं श्यामवक्षसि । चारुचम्पकपुष्पं च चूडायां प्रददौ सती
She applied sandalwood mixed with musk and saffron to Śyāma's chest, and adorned his hair with charming campaka flowers.
सहस्रदलससंक्तक्रीडापद्मं करे ददौ । प्रक्षिप्य मुरलीं हस्तात्प्रददौ रत्नदर्पणम्
She placed in his hand a lotus for play, fashioned with a thousand petals, and after setting aside his flute, gave him a jeweled mirror.
पारिजातस्य कुसुममम्लानं पुरतो ददौ । उवाच मधुरं राधा रहस्ये मधुरं वचः सस्मिता सस्मितं शान्तं कान्तं कान्ता मनोहरम्
She offered before him an unfading pārijāta blossom, and Rādhā, in private, spoke sweet, gentle, smiling, peaceful, and enchanting words.
राधिकोवाच निष्फलं मङ्गलप्रश्तं मङ्गले मङ्गलालये । सर्वमङ्गलबीजे च माङ्गल्ये मङ्गलप्रदे
Rādhikā said: An auspicious inquiry is fruitless when addressed to the very abode of all auspiciousness, the seed of all auspiciousness, the giver of auspiciousness, and the essence of auspiciousness itself.
तथाऽपि कुशलप्रश्ने सांप्रतं समयोचितम् । लौकिको व्यवहारोऽपि वेदेभ्यो बलवांस्तथा
Yet, even so, at this moment, asking about well-being is appropriate; worldly custom, too, is sometimes stronger than the Vedas.
कुशलं रुक्मिणीकान्त सत्यभामेश सांप्रतम् । महन्द्रेण समं युद्धं लीलया च यदाज्ञया
O beloved of Rukmiṇī, lord of Satyabhāmā, all is well now; by your play and command, you fought a great battle with Indra.
पारिजाततरुं स्वर्गादुत्पाट्य चामरावतीम् । गत्वा विजित्य देवांश्च तस्यै दसमिति श्रुतम्
Uprooting the Pārijāta tree from heaven, you went to Amarāvatī, conquered the gods, and gave it to her, as is well known.
पुण्यकं च कृतं तेन पारिजातेन सुव्रतम् । त्वामेव साध्यं कान्तं च संपूर्णे दक्षिणां ददौ
By that Pārijāta, a great merit was accomplished; you gave the complete offering to your beloved, having fulfilled your vow.
ब्रह्मेशशेषासाध्यस्त्वं तया साध्यः कृतः कथम् । सर्वभ्यः कामिनीभ्यश्च सत्यभामां बिभेषि च
You, who are unattainable by Brahmā, Śiva, and Śeṣa, were attained by her—how was this accomplished? And among all women, you seem to fear Satyabhāmā.
रुक्मिण्यां प्रेमसौभाग्यमतिरिक्तं च गौरवम् । भयं माल्यं च धन्यायां सत्यायां सततं श्रुतम्
It is always heard that Rukmiṇī enjoys special love, good fortune, and honor from you, while Satyabhāmā is said to possess fear and garlands.
सत्यं जाम्बवतीकान्त वद मां च सुनिश्चितम् । तासु सर्वासु कान्तासु कस्यास्ते प्रेम चाधिकम्
O beloved of Jāmbavatī, tell me truly and with certainty: among all your beloveds, to whom is your love the greatest?
शृङ्गारे सर्वभावे वा तासु का रसिका परा । त्वयि स्निग्धा विदग्धा का तामु धन्याऽतिसुव्रता
Among them, who is the foremost in passion and in all moods? Who is most affectionate and clever toward you? Who among them is blessed and supremely devoted?
सा स्त्री भावानुरक्ता या भार्यां पाति पतिश्च सः । प्रेमातिरिक्तं स्त्रीपुंसोस्त्रैलोक्येषु सुदुर्लभम्
That woman is truly devoted whose husband protects her and whom she protects; such surpassing love between woman and man is exceedingly rare in all the three worlds.
रसिका स्त्री विजानाति सती गुणवती पतिम् । गुणज्ञं रसिकं शूरं सुशीलं सुरतौ सदा
A discerning woman knows a virtuous, noble, and heroic husband who is always skillful in love, and who appreciates her virtues.
दूराद्धावति पद्मार्थ मधुलोभान्मध्रुव्रतः । भेकस्तन्न हि जानाति तन्मूर्ध्नि पादमुत्सृजेत्
The honeybee, devoted to honey, flies from afar for the sake of the lotus; the frog does not know this and may trample it underfoot.
यन्त्री जानाति संगीतरसं यन्त्रं च नैव च । दुग्धास्वादं विदग्धश्च न दर्वी नैव भाजनम्
The musician knows the taste of music, not the instrument itself; the clever one knows the taste of milk, not the ladle or the vessel.
परिपक्वफलास्वादं जानन्ति भोगिनः सुखम् । एकत्रावस्थिताः शश्वन्नकिंचित्फलिनो यथा
Those who enjoy know the taste of fully ripened fruit and happiness, just as those who remain together always, though not bearing fruit themselves.
सुशीलजलास्वादं विजानन्ति तृषाल्वः । न च वापी न घटश्चैकत्रावस्थितो यथा
Those who are thirsty know the taste of good water, not the well or the pot, even if they are nearby.
भोकिनो हि विजानन्ति शालिस्वादुरसं परम् । एकत्रावस्थितं चेतु न क्षेत्रं भाजनं यथा
Those who partake truly know the supreme taste of rice, not the field or the vessel, even if it is present.
बुबुधे चन्दनाघ्रणं चन्दनार्थी च भोगवित् । न गर्दभो भारवाही न तस्य पात्रिका यथा
The one who enjoys knows the scent of sandalwood, not the donkey who bears the load, nor its container.
यं न यानन्ति वेदाश्च ब्रह्मेशानादयस्तथा । योगिनो मुनयः सिद्धास्तं किं जानन्ति योषितः
He whom the Vedas, Brahmā, Śiva, and others, as well as yogis, sages, and perfected beings, do not reach—how can women know him?
सौभाग्यं गौरवं प्रेम दुर्लभं नित्यनूतम् । यौषितां च परं नैव चूर्णीभूतं क्षणेन च
Fortune, dignity, and love among women are rare and ever-new; yet, in a moment, they are utterly shattered.
अत्युच्छ्रितो निपतनं प्राप्नोत्येव ध्रुवं प्रभो । आराद्विपत्तिबीजं च वैष्णवानां विहिंसनम्
O Lord, one who rises too high inevitably falls; it becomes the seed of misfortune and brings harm to the Vaishnavas.